Treat All Adults The Same

West Hartford

July 21, 1998

Republican council members last week warned members of the gay community and its supporters that the council probably would not change the structure of swimming pool fees to give gay and other unmarried couples a discount. The GOP majority doesn't want to be in ``the business of affirming lifestyles,'' said Deputy Mayor Kevin Connors.

That, of course, is exactly what the present fee structure does. It affirms that only a family that meets the traditional definition is worthy of a discount.

The fact that the Republicans at first seemed open to considering a change then abruptly did an about-face suggests that they perhaps see political advantage in spurning the request by a resident gay couple for a more equitable fee structure. The couple, Mark Melanson and Michael Antisdale, have to pay the individual rate, totalling $590. They wanted to pay the $395 annual membership for families.

It's in West Hartford's best interests for the town to be seen as fair to all its residents.

As has already been proposed, one way to be equitable would be to charge all adults the same individual rate to use the pool regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. Each member of a childless married couple would pay the same as individuals in a gay household or an unmarried man and woman living together or college roommates and so forth. No lifestyle would be ``affirmed.'' There would be no politically troublesome definition of family.

The rate for children -- no matter who they live with -- could be half the adult rate, or even more deeply discounted if the town could afford it. It is also in the town's best interests that children learn to swim and have an affordable place to go for healthy recreation.

West Hartford's elected officials can speedily solve this problem if they have good will.